A planned tour of the musical Waitress to Sydney has been cancelled, adding to a growing list of productions that have been axed in Australia. Industry experts warn that the country's theatre sector is under serious threat without federal government intervention in the form of tax reform.
Share Bikes to Be Reined In
In Sydney, shared e-bikes cluttering footpaths will be addressed in the coming months under funding to establish marked parking bays, following community anger about the bikes being left haphazardly on streets.
Theatre Industry in Dire Straits
Two major touring musicals and a $20 million opera have been cancelled in the space of a week, according to experts who say the theatre industry desperately needs tax reform to keep it alive. The cancellations highlight the financial pressures facing live performance in Australia.
Political and Legal Developments
Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has suggested the party might need a "rebrand" to win back voters as the Coalition hit a new historic polling low. Meanwhile, former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has lost a legal bid to access copies of all footage from a documentary featuring Brittany Higgins.
International News
A strong aftershock has rattled northern Venezuela, five days after twin earthquakes that killed at least 1,450 people and left tens of thousands missing. In Germany, five women and a man were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility; two people, including the suspected shooter, were arrested in an incident not believed to be terror-related.
US Supreme Court Rulings
The US Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies or commissions, ending 90 years of court precedent curbing executive power. In other rulings, the court rejected Trump’s appeal against the E Jean Carroll verdict and found his firing of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook unconstitutional.
Penelope Keith Dies
Penelope Keith, star of To the Manor Born and The Good Life, has died aged 86. She is remembered as an actor with the unerring ability to portray domineering snobs with a heart.
World Cup Updates
Brazil delivered a dynamic second-half performance to overcome Japan 2-1 in Houston, clinching the win with a last-minute winner. Canada’s round of 32 win against South Africa has fired hope among the country’s governing body that hosting the tournament will be transformative. Sam Kerr will join Gotham FC in the US women’s league.
Other Sports
New Zealand won a Test series in England for the fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge, ending the international career of England’s captain Ben Stokes. Cricket writer Vic Marks called Stokes "brilliant, charismatic" and one of England’s best ever captains.
In-depth: America’s 250th Anniversary
Our Washington bureau chief, David Smith, reports that Donald Trump is twisting America’s 250th anniversary celebrations into a joyless occasion, turning the milestone into a 'theatre of the absurd'.
